Otti made the proposal on Wednesday while speaking at the South-East Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum, where he was invited to address participants on “Industrialisation and the Case for a Regional Energy Strategy.”
According to the governor, Geometric Power took about 20 years to produce its first electricity, a journey he described as long but instructive. He argued that other states in the region do not need to repeat that process from scratch.
“It took Geometric Power 20 years to produce its first electricity, so my brother, Governor Peter Mbah, does not have to spend another 20 years to generate power in Enugu. We can expand Geometric Power to Enugu; all we need to do is build additional gas turbines and wheel power to other states in the region,” Otti said.
He stressed that energy remains the foundation of industrialisation and economic growth, noting that Aba’s recent resurgence was driven not only by infrastructure development but by deliberate policies that created a business-friendly environment supported by stable electricity.
Otti explained that Aba now enjoys uninterrupted 24-hour power supply through Geometric Power, even during national grid collapses, because the city is no longer dependent on the national grid. He described Geometric Power as one of the most critical industrial assets in the South-East.
The Abia governor also identified Nigeria’s power sector challenges as extending beyond funding to include issues of competence, institutional culture, and political will. He highlighted the opportunities created by the Nigeria Electricity Act of 2023, which allows states greater control over electricity generation and regulation.
He disclosed that Abia State has already taken advantage of the new legal framework by enacting a mini-grid law and establishing the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA).
“We are determined to take our energy destiny into our own hands,” he declared.
Otti further called for a regional approach to energy development, noting that the South-East has sufficient natural resources to become energy self-sufficient, including crude oil deposits in Abia, Anambra, and Imo states, and coal reserves in Enugu and Ebonyi.
He emphasised collaboration over competition among South-East states, citing improved regional security and recent peaceful festivities as evidence of what collective effort can achieve. According to him, the same unity can be applied to energy and industrial development.
His address was met with sustained applause from dignitaries and stakeholders at the forum, many of whom described his presentation as practical, data-driven, and solution-oriented.
The South-East Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum is aimed at articulating a long-term development roadmap for the region, with a focus on economic growth, infrastructure, security, and regional integration…..
BIAFRA WILL START FROM ABIA STATE.
